Thermal insulated sewer water treatment environment

ABSTRACT

A sewer water treatment system having a septic tank and drain field is protected from freezing and becoming nonfunctional with a thermal insulation blanket. A plurality of stakes connected to the borders of the blanket extend into the ground to hold the blanket on the ground above the sewer water treatment system.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser.No. 61/189,016 filed Aug. 15, 2008.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention concerns the art of environmental protection ofunderground water treatment systems from freezing and becomingnonfunctional in cold weather climates. Water treatment systems combinedwith thermal insulated blankets comprise the art field of the invention.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Residential buildings in areas that do not have municipal sewer systemsincluding sewage treatment facilities have sewage handling systems thatinclude septic tanks and tiles or pipes in drain fields. The septictanks and tiles are located below ground to allow the sewer water andorganic particulates to filter and biodegrade in the soil. The septictanks and tiles are normally located below the frost level to preventfreezing of the sewer water and blockage of the sewer system.Environment regulations have been established to limit the depth of thesewer water tiles to no more than three feet or one meter to reduceground water, lake and river contamination. Sewer water in cold climateswill freeze when located three feet or less below grade or ground.Organic materials, such as straw, hay and corn stalks have been used tocover the ground over septic tanks and drain fields containing sewertiles to inhibit freezing of the sewer water in the septic tank anddrain tiles. The organic materials draws moisture and attracts rodents.Wind can scatter these materials thereby exposing the ground over theseptic tank and drain field to the cold elements. The disadvantages oforganic materials for covering septic tanks and drain fields have beenovercome by the thermal water treatment environment of the invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a thermal insulated water treatment environment havingwater treatment structure and drain fields located underground andprotected from freezing in cold weather climates. One or more thermalinsulation blankets located on the ground above the water treatmentstructure and drain fields are used to inhibit freezing of watertreatment structure and drain fields. Fasteners, such as stakes,engageable with the blankets extend into the ground to hold the blanketson the ground above the water treatment structure and drain fields. Thewater treatment structure includes septic tanks for receiving wastewater and solids from residential homes and porous tiles or tubularmembers for carrying water from the septic tanks to the drain fields.The blankets having first and second sheet members having outerperipheral flanges connected together to confine a core of thermalinsulation material between the sheet members. Ring members, such asgrommets and stitches around holes, connected to the flanges accommodatethe stakes to apply lateral forces on the blankets and hold the blanketson the ground over the septic tank and drain fields whereby the blanketsand air in the soil below the blankets inhibit freezing of the water inthe septic tank and drain fields. The blankets are made of lightweightflame retardant materials that can be turned into rolls for convenientstorage and use. The thermal insulation of the water treatment structureis achieved without electric power and is compatible with theenvironment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the combined sewer water drain field andthermal insulation blanket of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged top plan view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged Sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a section of a modified thermal insulationblanket of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A sewer water drain field 10, shown in FIG. 1, extends away from abuilding 11, illustrated as a residential house, is used to filter thesewer water through ground 13. Building 1I1 can be a commercial orindustrial structure, shop or garage. A pipe or tile 12 located underground 13 carries water and gas from building 11 to a septic tank andfrom the septic tank to drain field 10. Tile 12 is a porous tubularmember used to carry water from a septic tank. The water and gas isdispensed into ground 13 adjacent tile 12 where organic materials andmicroorganisms are biodegraded and the water is filtered as it flowsdown into the ground. The septic tank located underground traps andholds solids in the waste water. The solids settle to the bottom of thetank and form over time sludge and scum. Water in the top section of thetank flows out into one or more drain tiles 12 and discharges throughholes 15 in tile 12 into the ground or soil around tile 12. The water inthe septic tank and tile between building 11 and the tank and tile 12and ground 13 around tile 12 must not freeze up and stop the functioningof the solids and water treatment system.

Pipe 12 has a plurality of holes 15 that allow water and organisms toflow into ground 13. The ground particulates or soil filters the waterand allow for oxygenation of the organism and organic matter in thewater. A pipe or tile located underground is used to carry sewer solidsand water from building 11 to a septic tank or sewer system. A pluralityof underground pipes or tiles can be used to carry water and gas from aseptic tank and dispense the water and gas into ground 13. The gas hasan oxygen content that elutes into ground 13 around and above tile 12.The oxygen aids in the biodegration of organisms, bacterial, fungi, andviruses. The soil particles, sand and rocks allow the water to migratedownward in ground 13 and the gas to flow upward to turf 14. The gas andground 13 and air in ground 13 around and above tile 12 has heatgenerating microorganism action and thermal insulation properties thatmitigate freezing of water in tile 12 and surrounding ground. The waterand ground 13 around tile 12 and entire upper portions 20 of drain fieldcan freeze into a solid mass in extreme cold weather. When atmospherictemperature falls to minus 40° or 50° F, the ground can have a frostdepth of 3 to 4 meters. Under these cold weather conditions the entiredrain filed will be frozen and nonfunctional.

As shown in FIG. 1 to 3, an elongated insulated cover or blanket 17located on turf 14 or surface of ground 13 protects the waste watersystem including the septic tank, drain field 10 and water in pipe 12from freezing in cold weather environments. The functioning of the sewersystem for building 11 is maintained operational during the cold weatherseason. Blanket 17 can also be used to cover underground water pipesbetween a water well and building 11. Blanket 17 located on the surfaceof turf 14 shields ground 20 under blanket from surface water that cansaturate ground 20 and replace air in ground 20 and inhibit normalfunctioning of the water treatment system. Blanket 17 is made of durablewaterproof materials having fire retardant specifications. Blanket 17 isan air and water impervious member having cover sheets or members 31 and32 located on opposite sides of a flexible and flat core 33 of thermalinsulation material. The thermal insulation material can be an open orclosed cell foam plastic, a glass fiber mat or a plastic body havingencapsulated air cells that substantially fills the space between covermembers 31 and 32. The thermal insulation material has substantiallyuniform thickness throughout its width and length. The cover members 31and 32 are secured together with an outer peripheral border 18. Stitches25 and 26 or other fasteners are used to retain flange 18 in a flat andair tight condition. Border 18 does not allow water from entering core33. The air in core 33 is confined within blanket 17 whereby core 33 andair functions as thermal insulation.

As shown in FIG. 3, border 18 supports a plurality of laterally spacedrings or grommets 19. Other types of openings, such as holes reinforcedwith stitches, can be incorporated into border 18. Stakes or posts 21and 22 adapted to be driven to ground 13 engage border 18 to holdblanket in firm engagement with turf 14 over drain field 10 above tile12. The stakes 21 and 22 apply opposite lateral forces, shown by arrows27 and 28, and downward forces on blanket 17 along the length thereof toinhibit cold air and water from flowing under blanket 17 and freezingground area 20 above tile 12 and septic tank. Blanket 17 also retainssome of the air and gas from tile 12 in ground area 20 and preventswater, ice and snow from covering turf 14 above tile 12. In early fallblanket 17 holds snow for added thermal insulation.

The stakes 21 and 22 attached to border 18 cooperate to hold blanket 17in firm engagement with turf 14 over drain field 10. The thermalinsulation features of blanket 17 and retention of gas and air in groundarea 20 mitigate freezing of the drain field in adverse cold weatherenvironments. Blanket 17 and stakes 21 and 22 are also used with moundsewer drain systems. The blanket 17 covers the mound and maintained onthe mound with stakes 21 and 22 extended into the ground on oppositesides of the mound.

As seen in FIG. 3, stake 21 has an elongated linear shank 23 extendedinto ground 13. A head 24 joined to the top end of shank 23 is an impactreceiving member. A hammer or maul is used to apply impact forces onhead 24 to drive shank 23 into ground 13. An inverted hook 26 joined tothe upper end of shank 23 extends through grommet 19 to attach stake 21to flange 18. Hook 26 has a downwardly and outwardly extended leg thatretains the hook in grommet 19 and applies an outward lateral force,shown by arrows 27 and 28, on flange 18. The remaining stakes aroundblanket 17, shown in FIG. 2, have the same structure and function asstake 21.

An example of blanket 17 has a length of 6 meters and a width of 2meters. Sheet member 31 and 32 are flexible fabric or plastic, such aspolyethylene or polyester with fibers. The flange 18 is stitched toenclose a core 33 having uniform thickness throughout its width andlength. Grommets 19 are tubular metal members that extend through holesin flange 18 and secure with annular rings to opposite sides of flange18. The hooks 26 of the stakes extend through grommets 19 to retainblanket 17 in firm engagement with turf 14 over the drain field andapply opposite lateral forces to blanket 17. Blanket 17 can betransported and stored in a roller condition. In use, blanket 17 isunrolled, as shown in FIG. 1, over the drain field 10, septic tank, andtiles between building 11 and the septic tank. Blanket 17 is made ofdurable and lightweight materials suitable for years of reuse.

A modification of the thermal insulation blanket 100, shown in FIGS. 4and 5, has rectangular polyester fiber sheet members 101 and 102 locatedadjacent opposite sides of a thermal insulation core 103. The sheetmembers 101 and 102 are tear and puncture resistant flexible membersthat are water and air impervious. Each sheet member 101 and 102 has aplastic base with interengaging fibers of plastic or glass filaments.Other types of durable materials can be used for sheet members 101 and102. The thermal insulation core 103 has a continuous body of airbubbles or air cells 104. The air cells have generally hexagonal shapesseparated with flexible plastic fibers. Outer film layers are onopposite sides of the array of air cells 104. Other types of materialscan be used for thermal insulation core 103.

Blanket 100 has an outer peripheral border 108 that extends around theopposite sides and ends of sheet members 101 and 102. A plurality ofgrommets 109 attached to border 108 are adapted to accommodate fastenersuch as stakes that retain blanket 100 on the ground over the sewersystem. Other types of openings, such as holes reinforced with stitches,can be incorporated into border 108. Border 108 includes a U-shapedpolyester sheet member 111 located around the ends 112 of sheet members101 and 102 of end 113 of core 103. Fasteners 114, shown as stitchessecure sheet member 111 to sheet members 101 and 102 and core 103. Sheetmembers 111 can be made of different types of materials. Also, differenttypes of fasteners, such as heat seals can be used to secured sheetmember 111 to member 101 and 102.

As shown in FIG. 5, an outer portion or end 113 of core 103 locatedwithin border 108 provides border 108 with thermal insulation. TheU-shape sheet member 111 and fasteners 114 seal the outer edges of sheetmembers 101 and 102 and core 103 to prevent water, ice, snow, dirt andair from entering into blanket 100. The integrity and strength of border108 is enhanced by the plurality of layers of sheet members 101, 102 and111. An example of blanket 100, has a width of six feet or two metersand a length of twenty feet or six meters. Stakes, such as stakes 21 and22 shown in FIG. 3, are used to secure blanket 100 to the ground.Blanket 100 can have other sizes and shapes.

While the combined sewer system and thermal insulation blankets havebeen disclosed and described in the foregoing specification and drawing,it is understood the modifications of the blankets and materials can bemade by a person skilled in the art without departing from theinvention, reference being had to the appended claims.

1. A thermo insulated sewer water treatment environment comprising:ground having a top surface, a sewer water treatment system locatedbelow the top surface of the ground, at least one thermal insulationblanket located on the top surface of the ground above the sewer watertreatment system operable to inhibit freezing of the sewer watertreatment system, and fasteners engageable with the insulation blanketextended into the ground to retain the blanket on the top surface of theground above the sewer water treatment system.
 2. The sewer watertreatment environment of claim 1 wherein: the ground includes a waterdrain field and said sewer water treatment system includes at least onewater porous tile located in the drain field, said blanket being locatedon the top surface of the ground above the water porous tile to inhibitfreezing of the water in the tile and ground around the tile.
 3. Thesewer water treatment environment of claim 1 wherein: the groundincludes a water drain field and said sewer water treatment systemincludes a septic tank and at least one tubular porous member coupled tothe septic tank for carrying water from the septic tank to the drainfield, said blanket being located on the top surface of the ground abovethe septic tank and tubular porous member to inhibit freezing of waterin the septic tank and tubular porous member and ground around thetubular porous member.
 4. The sewer water treatment environment of claim1 wherein: the thermal insulation blanket comprises first and secondsheet members, a core of thermal insulation material located between thefirst and second cover sheets, each of said first and second sheetmembers having an outer peripheral border, and fasteners securing theborders together to enclose the core of thermal insulation materialbetween the first and second sheets.
 5. The sewer water treatmentenvironment of claim 4 wherein: the core of thermal insulation materialis a sheet of foam plastic.
 6. The sewer water treatment environment ofclaim 4 wherein: the core of thermal insulation material is a body ofenclosed air cells.
 7. The sewer water treatment environment of claim 4including: members connected to the borders engageable with thefasteners to retain the blanket on the top surface of the ground.
 8. Thesewer water treatment environment of claim 7 wherein: the members aregrommets and the fasteners are stakes engageable with the grommets andextended into the ground.
 9. The sewer water treatment environment ofclaim 1 wherein: the fasteners comprise a plurality of stakes extendedinto the ground and connected to the blanket to hold the blanket on thetop surface of the ground.
 10. The sewer water treatment environment ofclaim 1 wherein: the blanket includes an outer peripheral border, aplurality of ring members connected to the border, said fastenerscomprise a plurality of stakes having shanks extended into the groundand hooks engageable with the rings to hold the blanket on the topsurface of the ground.
 11. The sewer water treatment environment ofclaim 1 wherein: the thermal insulation blanket comprises first andsecond plastic fiber containing sheet members, a core having a body ofenclosed air cells located between the sheet members, said first andsecond sheet members having outer peripheral side and end portions, saidcore having side and end portions located between said side and endportions of the first and second sheet members, a U-shaped plastic fibercontaining sheet member extended around the side and end portions of thefirst and second sheet members and core side and end portions, and afastener securing the U-shaped sheet member to the side and end portionsof the first and second sheet members to enclosed the side and endportions of the first and second sheet members and core.
 12. A thermalinsulation blanket locatable on the top surface of the ground abovesewer water treatment system located underground and fastenersconnecting the blanket to the ground operable to inhibit freezing of thesewer water treatment system comprising: first and second flexible andwater impervious sheet members, a core of thermal insulation materiallocated between the sheet members, each of said first and secondflexible sheet members having an outer peripheral portions connectedtogether to confine the core of thermal insulation material between thesheet members, a plurality of ring members connected to the outerperipheral portions, and fasteners comprising stakes engageable with thering members and adapted to extend into the ground to hold the blanketon the ground.
 13. The blanket and fasteners of claim 12 wherein: thecore of thermal insulation material is a sheet of foam plastic.
 14. Theblanket and fasteners of claim 12 wherein: the core of thermalinsulation material is a body of enclosed air cells.
 15. The blanket andfasteners of claim 11 wherein: the ring members are grommets extendedthrough the portions and said stakes having shanks extendable in theground and hooks engageable with the grommets adapted to apply lateralforces to the blanket and hold the blanket on the ground.
 16. A thermalinsulation blanket comprising: first and second sheet members havingouter peripheral side and end portions; a thermal insulation core havinga body of enclosed air cells located between said first and second sheetmembers, said body of enclosed air cells having side and end portionslocated between the outer peripheral side and end portions of the firstand second members; a U-shaped sheet member extended around the side andend portions of the first and second members and core, and a fastenersecuring the U-shaped member to the side and end portions of the firstand second sheet members to enclose the side and end portions of thefirst and second members and core.
 17. The blanket of claim 16 wherein:the first and second sheet members are polyester fiber sheet members.18. The blanket of claim 16 wherein: the U-shaped sheet member is apolyester fiber sheet member.
 19. The blanket of claim 16 wherein: Thefirst and second sheet members are polyester fiber sheet members and theU-shaped sheet member is a polyester fiber sheet member.
 20. The blanketof claim 16 wherein: the fastener is stitches securing the U-shapedmember to the side and end portions of first and second sheet members.